OCALA, FL (352today.com) – “She was vibrant, full of life and could hold a grudge like nobody else,” you can hear the catch in Lisa Bolton’s voice as she describes her daughter, Kerri.
“I miss her so much,” said Bolton.
Kerri died on January 25, 2019, from an overdose of heroin laced with fentanyl and carfentanil, extremely powerful opioids. She was just 26 years old.
Since losing her daughter, she’s encountered societal stereotypes and stigma.
“Am I ashamed to discuss how she died? No… absolutely not,” said Bolton emphatically. “She didn’t wake up one day and say, ‘I’m going to start using drugs and die six years later and make my mother’s life a living hell.’ She made a choice one day, and it turned into a disease and that claimed her life.”
On Wednesday, Bolton will join others who’ve lost loved ones to overdose. People like Michelle Pepin whose son, Ian, died from an overdose.
The day has become known as Black Balloon Day – a day to create awareness about opioid addiction and how to help those struggling with substance use disorder.
In Marion County, Black Balloon Day will be observed at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6, at Good Shepherd Memorial Gardens which is located at 5050 SW 20th St. in Ocala.
In year’s past, Black Balloon Day events around the globe included a release of balloons. Now, many of the remembrances take a more environmentally friendly approach and replace balloons with balloon-shaped cards and virtual options to remember a loved one online.
Locally, participants will also have the opportunity to decorate rocks and place them around the cemetery. The activity is intended to inspire hope.
For Bolton, the day will be an emotional rollercoaster. “Not only am I going to be sad because I miss her so much, but also because I’m angry,” said Bolton. “When she was in the throws of addiction, she couldn’t help it because the disease took over her brain.”
Bolton and Pepin have both channeled their anger into action.
Bolton founded The Dandelion Project which provides counseling and support services for families who’ve lost a loved one to opioid addiction and recently received 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.
Pepin founded Picking Up the Pieces which provides harm reduction services.
Together the grieving moms co-founded M.U.T.E. which stands for Mother’s United To Educate. They say M.U.T.E. is more than a grief group. They are committed to raising awareness and educating the community about the disease of substance use abuse, mental health and suicide.
They say their children’s lives were ended by opioids and don’t want it to be in vain. They’re trying to educate parents to get informed, know the facts and the signs.
|READ: Signs of drug use in teens
Bolton says parents need to open their eyes, talk to their kids about drugs and listen to them. And most importantly, don’t be lulled into the false sense of security that drug use and addiction fit a stereotype.
“Kerri was a college graduate with a 4.0 GPA, an artist, a writer and into yoga,” said Bolton. “So many parents say, ‘Not my child. My child wouldn’t be an addict.’ You know what? I was you. Now I look at an urn every night.”